CAMPAIGN SPENDING : Wieder, Tucker Lead in Fund Raising : Health Care Groups Help Incumbent

The numbers tell the story.

Assemblyman Curtis R. Tucker (D-Inglewood), a seven-term legislator and Assembly Health Committee chairman, has raised $224,855 for the June 7 primary campaign, 12 times more than Inglewood Councilman Daniel Tabor, the strongest challenger Tucker has faced since he went to Sacramento in 1974.

Campaign records released last week revealed an impressive show of financial support for Tucker by longtime allies, including health care interest groups, other Assembly Democrats and labor organizations.

Hard Campaign

Tabor raised $18,086 this year, $14,231 of it between March 18 and May 21, the period covered by the campaign statements. The two-term councilman had hoped to raise at least $25,000 in his campaign in the 50th Assembly District, which encompasses El Segundo, Westchester, Inglewood, Lennox and parts of South Los Angeles.

Tabor’s challenge has forced Tucker to campaign hard. The assemblyman spent $147,048 during the reporting period, including about $87,000 on mailers, literature and outdoor advertising.

Tabor spent $10,870 during that period, including about $2,500 on outdoor advertising and $1,880 on political consulting.

Tucker received at least $65,000 from political action committees and other contributors in the health care field who have been supporters since he became Health Committee chairman in 1983.

The California Medical PAC gave Tucker $30,500, his largest single contribution. The California Dental PAC donated $8,000, and the California Hospital PAC gave $3,000.

Popularity in Caucus

Fellow legislators reached into their own campaign funds to pour $65,500 into Tucker’s coffer, an indication of his popularity in the Democratic Caucus headed by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, a close ally. Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Mike Roos topped the list with a $10,000 contribution.

Organized labor and public employees groups gave Tucker more than $15,000, with the AFL-CIO’s Committee on Political Education and the California State Council of Service Employees donating $5,000 each.

Support of Professionals

Many of Tabor’s contributors are Inglewood or Los Angeles professionals who contributed $100 or $200. Tabor’s largest cash contribution, $500, came from Pasadena attorney Channing Johnson.

Tucker had $86,685 in campaign funds as of May 21. Speaker Brown will hold a $1,000-a-head fund-raiser for him Wednesday.

Tabor’s statement showed $6,289 on hand.